{C}{C} → Scratch : 20
{G}{G} → Spore
The Defending Pokémon is now Asleep.
illus. Ken Sugimori · LV.8
Formats: Other: 1999–2001
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Burrows to suck tree roots. The mushrooms on its back grow by drawing nutrients from the bug host.
Pásovec devítipásý
Was the sleep special condition any better in Gen 1 than it is now? If not, then the energy cost of Spore seems very high for a mediocre status effect.
Twylis
Not really; Base Set Gastly was infamously terrible due to needing a coin flip on sleep (which inherently needs a coin flip to have an effect anyway). Ironically though, that Gastly’s free retreat compares favorably to many modern cards.
The main status that was significantly better in gen 1 was confusion, which required flipping a coin to *retreat*, and discarded the retreat cost regardless. Tails only dealt 20 damage back then, but HP costs were far, far lower. Poison was more impactful for HP creep reasons as well.